REPORT: Hangzhou Greentown - Gervinho - More Signings to Come

HANGZHOU GREENTOWN 1 - 1 ARSENAL

Team Line-ups

Arsenal:

Mannone, Sagna, Djourou, Squillaci, Traore, Rosicky, Frimpong, Nasri, Arshavin, Vela, van Persie

Hangzhou Greentown:

Jiang Bo, Wu Shaokun, Li Yan, Pazzaolano, Longyuan, Xuan, Jiashu, Vazquez, Liu Bin, Wang Song, Randy

Match Report

Pre-season Friendly

Meihu Stadium, Yiwu

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Kick-off: 12:30

Just a quick summary of Saturday’s last match in the Asia tour for Arsenal. THe opponents were Hangzhou Greentown, a proper club team compared to the Malaysia XI that was chosen to face Gunners. The match was going to be a test as Greenhouse are used to the conditions and are a fitter side at the moment.

The team had a relatively mix of starting eleven players and fringe players. You could tell with the line-up we had we weren't fluent in our passing and were quite sloppy. Also pressuring the opposition when needed wasn't at its best. However this is the bets time to get rid of those rusty performances.

The brightest players on the pitch in the first half for us were mainly Arshavin, Nasri and Vela. But it came as no surprise with Greenhouse taking the lead due to, that's right you've guessed it, another poor show at the back from a set piece. Green house were quite dangerous and hit the post prior to taking the lead. It was Squillaci and Mannone with school boy errors that saw Arsenal take an unexpected lead. Thankfully these two don't start for Arsenal on a regular basis.

Arsenal soon enough got back in the game  and drew level in the first half with Vela finishing it off with, sorry not a chip over the goalkeeper but the simplest of tap ins from a well worked one-two from van Persie and Arshavin. van Persie's shot was saved after Arshavin's lobbed pass, which fortunately landed into Vela's path (fox in the box anyone?).

The second half was a much better performance from Arsenal as it saw a complete change of the eleven that started the first. The fact that the core of the usual starting eleven began the second half, with the likes of Szczesny, Koscienly, Vermaelen, Song, Wilshere. Also a big factor was natural pace speedsters in Miyachi and Walcott to stretch Greentown.

To sum up the second half, we had many chances that we should've finished with ease. But with time and more match practice that hopefully shouldn't be the case.


Match Highlights:

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So the new man in town has now arrived, but you already knew that a few weeks ago didn't you? That's right Gervinho has finally been unveiled in both Arsenal shirts, clearly it's a marketing scheme in order to try and sell more shirts.

Marketing ploy with both home and away shirts

Gervinho himself states that he will play in his best position, which is on the right of a front three, but he can also play on the opposite side as well as down the middle. I personally want to see him down the right hand side. For the past few seasons now with Walcott, we haven't seen that natural ability to get past a player with skill, it's all about speed with Theo. Gervinho has skill as well as pace. He contribues with a lot of assists, which I think Walcott needs a lot of work on still. But then again Walcott should be down the middle anyway as he thrives on instinct.

Anyway back to our new striking sensation (if you can call him that). I relish to see what this player is going to be like for us, he seems an exciting and electric player and although I've heard of him before, I've never really watched him apart form the odd substitute appearances for Ivory Coast, otherwise he's an unknown quantity to me really.

However I'm glad we've signed someone finally, I hope this spending spree continues.

Welcome to Arsenal Gervinho!

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So more signings looks like it's on our way with rumours going about again that we're still in for Cahill from Bolton, Samba from Blackburn and Mata from Valencia. Now these rumours persistently never stop, just as the never ending saga of Fabregas and Barcelona, when will they shut up and just pay the asking price or just go away and leave our club alone?

I wouldn't be surprised if we signed any of the aforementioned three. However it seems whenever it's English sources the transfer never comes off. Most of the reliable sources come form France (is that because we're run by a French manage, who knows?)

But the outs seem like they've started as well. Denilson will be heading back to Sao Paulo, that's pretty much confirmed as it was on Arsenal's official website. Bendtner is in talks with a few clubs. Eboue looks like he's on his way to Galatasaray and it's gone all quiet on behalf of our No.1 goalkeeper (his shirt number, not literally) Almunia. So I'm sure something's happening there.

REPORT: Malaysia XI 0-4 Arsenal

MALAYSIA XI 0 - 4 ARSENAL

Team Line-ups

Arsenal:

Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen (c), Gibbs, Song, Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott, Miyachi, Chamakh

Malaysia XI:

Nourdin, Jasuli, Purta, Zafuan, Rahim, Shas, Subramaniam, Talaha, Rohidan, Saarani, Zainal

Match Report

Pre-season Friendly

Bukit Jalil Stadium

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Kick-off: 13:45

I didn’t manage to catch the match; only through Twitter could I manage to get updates as I am involved in the working world. From what I heard or saw Arsenal looked in good shape in Malaysia showing that last season is almost out of their minds with a game they were always in control of. News boys Jenkinson and Miyachi both started, the rest had a familiar look to the team.

Arsenal came out of the traps quicker than their opponenets and got an early goal as Ramsey (5) dispatched a penalty after Wilshere’s movement was too quick for the Malaysian defence and was brought down in the area.

The pressure continued, but it took till eight minutes before half time for Walcott (37) doubled Arsenal’s tally. It was the best goal of the game as Ramsey assisted from the middle of the pitch, in what you would call Cesc like. The vision and execution was sublime. (If Fabregas were to leave, I think Aaron can step up). The ball split the Malaysian defence and Walcott lobbed the keeper into an empty net. The finish did somewhat look like Theo shinned or hit it with his calf, still a neat finish.

Arsenal went into half-time with a lead at 2-0. I had predicted a score line of 4-1 to Arsenal; the match did finish 4-0 so I was close enough. Maybe if Almunia was on tour we would’ve conceded that one goal. Vela (58) got Arsenal’s third goal to put the game beyond doubt. It was Déjà vu all over again, with Carlos deciding to chip the keeper who was still standing. It was a great finish but when will Vela learn that sometimes scoring the simple goal is much more effective. One day we’ll play a big side or a match the has a lot riding on it and he’ll turn up in a position to give us the win and he’d decide to chip and miss ,when the direct shot would’ve been far more the better option. This is a make or break year for Vela I feel, with Bendtner looking on his way out, he needs to impress, but down the middle.


Another positive was to see Nasri coming on to play for the side off the bench, I hope this tour is a good bonding session to keep players together, especially for Samir. A low point was Denilson coming off after twenty minutes on the pitch after coming on as a substitute himself. The Brazilian stormed down the tunnel, clearly unhappy. The substitute was covered up by saying he was injured. But news is that he's actually close to a loan deal to Sao Paulo.

Finally our fourth goal came late on with Arshavin coming on to dart past his man to the by-line to cross with a deflection for Rosicky (90) (seems like he never scores) to nod home from close range.

All in all a good first win with a good run out in hot weather, where they would’ve sweated loads and improved their fitness, which is all that matters at this stage. Next up in Arsenal’s Asia tour is Chinese outfit Hangzhou Greentown.

Match Highlights: